Additional Info

Nearby Theaters

Opened in 1939 and located on the Army Base it was built as a WPA project. I saw a revival of Walt Disney’s “Dumbo” here in 1972 for .50C which was cheap even then. It may have even been a double feature but I can’t recall. Filled with Army Base children – not many if any adults.

It has stood empty and unused since the mid-1990’s. In 2017 plans were announced to renovate the building thanks to a $30 million endowment from the Haas Foundation, with a view to a 2019 reopening

Ten years ago I viewed the theater with the hopes of reopening it but was shocked at what I encountered…
Upon its departure, the U.S. Army idiots completely stripped the building of everything that could be taken. Yes, even the ceiling lights down to the toilet tissue holders!!!

According to an article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle, the Presidio Theatre opened in 1939, it has sat vacant since 1994 when the US Army turned the base it was located on over to the National park Service.

The good news is that the Presidio Theatre is about to undergo a 2 year, $30 million makeover, thanks to Margret “Peggy” Haas and her foundation. Ms. Haas is a descendent of Levi Strauss, and her family has long been involved in numerous philanthropic activities in the Bay Area.

Primarily used as a movie theatre in the past, plans call for expanding the stage area so the venue can handle a variety of events including talks, theatrical presentations, graduations and I would hope the occasional movie presentation.

The theatre is located within a national historic landmark district, so making changes or additions to the structure isn’t easy, previous proposals died in part because of that. However, the State Historic Preservation Office and other parties have given the ok for the changes, which are minimal. Restoration of detail to the building will be done from the original blueprints, it will seat 650 when it opens in 2019.

The article I linked above has more information and includes 7 photos taken last week.